The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-06-16
A REMARKABLE DOG.
What n Big Mastin Did for His GAR
den-Loying Master.

den-Loying Master.
Mr. Harold Dollner, native of Den
mark, and for many years consul gen.
eral of Denmark in New York city,
says writer in The Christian Aduo-
cate, and portion of the time acting
minister for that kingdom, and well
known to business men as the head of
the firm of Dollner, Potter & Co., of
New York, for many years resided in
Brooklyn in mansion of the old
style, situated on Washington avenue,
in the midst of what, for a city, are
large grounds. He always took a great
interest in his flowers, trees, and vege-
tables, and in the heart of the city
raised the very finest pumpkins. He
also kept two or three dogs-one a
house-dog, another of the spaniel varie-
ty, and the third powerful mastiff.
The mastiff was always chained near
the stable, and not far from the rear
entrance to the premises.
In n certain autumn the pumpkins
which were produced in Mr.. Dollner's
garden were of such extraordinary size
and beauty that they excited the cupid
ty of a person, who stole two of the
largest of them and took them to the
horticultural exhibition, where he en-
tered them as his own, and actually
took the premium for them. This so
hn1i hot
he instructed his gardner to take off the
largest of those which remained and
deposite them in the cellar. lest they
also should be stolen. At the same time
he told him to set the mastitf loose. so
that if anybody else came in at night
to steal the pumpkins the dog would
attack him. Pursuant to this order the
gardner worked all the afternoon TAX
ing off the finest OF the pumpkins,
which he carried one by one, piling
them near the cellar door until he had
finished. when he conveyed them into
the cellar. About sunset he unclaimed
the mastiff.
This dog had watched the perform
ance of the gardener, and during the
night it knawed off the largest oil
the remaining pumpkins and carried
| them one by one to the cellar door,
where he piled them up and stood
guard over them until the next morning,
when, as the cook arose and opened
the door, with an expression OF great
delight, the animal waggcd his tail,
looked up for appreciation, and went
away. The next night he knawed OIL
everything from the size of hazel-nut
upward. and carried them to the cellar
door as before. A few days afterward,
when the person suspected OF having
stolen the pumpkins, who had always
been friendly with him, entered, the
mastiff sprang upon him with the ut
most rage.
Mr.. Dollner was living when we
wrote the above. 1t was then sent to
him with a request that he would GER
tify to it's truth if he could, or alter it
till he could conscientiously attest it.
| A few weeks before his death we re-
ceiveu our last communication from
him:
No. $50 WASHINGTON AVENUE, BROOKLYN
Z, IL, 1851 certify that the account given by
DIR. Buckley of my pumpkins and my dog is
true in every particular. HAROLD DoLLNER."
1t is plain that the mastiff had never
seen such an operation before. Hd
therefore must have comprehended il
by an effort of the mind, held it through
the entire night, worked upon it, con-
templated it as completed act, and
surrendered the pumpkins to the fami
ly when they arose. Yet of course hs
failed to comprehend the reason or ia
distingu sh the value of the ripe from
the unripe pumpkins. He also con-
nected the man who had in his sight
stolen the pumpkins with the deed.
At the time this was told to the writ
or there were six witnesses living
the gardner, two servants in the house,
and the owner of the establishment,
his wife, and their son.